Antonio Conte has denied being in “advanced negotiations” with Manchester United or any other club, calling recent reports speculation. The former Chelsea and Tottenham manager, currently out of work since leaving Napoli in May, said he will take time to make a “carefully considered decision” about his next managerial role.
Conte, who has been linked with United amid pressure on interim manager Michael Carrick, took to Instagram this week to address the rumours circulating in Italy and abroad. “My name has been linked with numerous clubs, but there are currently no negotiations at an advanced stage,” he wrote. Conte emphasised that any future move would depend on the right conditions.
He also disputed claims about financial demands or requests for full control. “I have read reports of financial demands and requests for full control that I have supposedly already made to the clubs mentioned, as well as reservations about what has been described as my ‘strong personality’,” he said. “These reports are unfounded, as there is currently no concrete basis for such assessments.”
Conte’s statement comes amid speculation that Manchester United could be preparing for a managerial change after a difficult start to the Premier League season. Carrick remains in charge for now, but his position is uncertain ahead of the weekend’s match against Brighton. Other names mentioned as potential replacements include Eddie Howe and Julian Nagelsmann.
The Italian has been linked not only with United but also with a possible return to Juventus, where he won three Serie A titles between 2011 and 2014. Juventus’s new manager Luciano Spalletti has had a mixed start to the season, which has fuelled speculation about Conte’s availability. However, Conte made clear that no concrete talks are underway.
In an earlier interview with The Athletic this month, Conte said he would be open to another job in England after his spells with Chelsea and Tottenham. He has won league titles with four different clubs: Juventus, Chelsea, Inter Milan, and Napoli. His time at Tottenham saw him take over a struggling side mid-season and guide them back into the Champions League.
Conte’s reputation for a demanding style and a strong personality has occasionally led to friction with club hierarchies. His departure from Tottenham in March 2023 followed a public criticism of the club’s management during a press conference. Despite this, he remains a respected figure for his success in Italy and England.
Meanwhile, other managerial options for United face their own hurdles. Brighton’s Fabian Hurzeler and Aston Villa’s Unai Emery have been linked with the role, but both are under long-term contracts until 2029, and their clubs would demand compensation. Hurzeler dismissed rumours linking him to United on Friday and insisted his work at Brighton, who are currently third in the Premier League, is not finished.
Conte’s Instagram statement concluded with a warning against treating speculation as fact. “Should a concrete opportunity arise, that will be the time to hold discussions with the club concerned and jointly consider the terms of a potential agreement,” he wrote. “Until then, any assumptions about my demands and my professional future remain speculation and cannot be treated as fact.”
According to Yahoo Sports.
